Classic banjo, also known as finger-style or guitar-style banjo, is a type of banjo music in which the strings are picked with the thumb, index, and middle fingers to create a smooth flowing sound. During the 19th century, the five-string classic banjo evolved from the stroke style, and many banjo players, particularly in America and England, adopted it. Classic banjo has become less popular over time, and as of 2011, only a few contemporary banjo musicians, including Geoff Freed of Black-Tie Banjo and Clark Buehling, have preserved the classic banjo style.
As a reaction to the popular minstrel shows in America during the nineteenth century, the five-string classic banjo style evolved from the stroke style. Minstrel shows were created during the time when African slaves were being transported to America, and they involved white musicians imitating African culture by painting their faces black and dressing in oversized clothing. The shows featured a number of musicians, including a banjo player who used the stroke style to play the instrument’s strings in a hard-hitting, downward motion, creating a harsh sound. Classic banjo evolved over time, and the choppy-sounding stroke style gave way to a melodious sound that resembled guitar techniques at the time.
The banjo was invented in the 17th century, and while its structure has evolved over time, it is still primarily comprised of a head, fingerboard, tuning pegs, and strings. The instrument’s head is usually made of synthetic material or animal hide, and it is connected to a Western-style fingerboard. Tuning pegs are located at the end of the fingerboard, and four or five strings stretch across the head and fingerboard. When the strings are struck, they vibrate against the stretched material that covers the head, producing a sound.
The banjo has gained popularity in many genres of music over time, particularly country music. The banjo became popular in country music in the 1920s, and by the late 1930s, it had become associated with bluegrass, a sub-genre of country music with roots in traditional English, Irish, and Scottish music and incorporating jazz to create upbeat tempos. Bluegrass was founded in 1938 by Bill Monroe, an American musician who formed the Bluegrass Boys, the first bluegrass group.